AN: Dearest readers, you don't know how I treasure the moments I'm reading
your reviews. Thank you so much guys!
Chapter 33
Frodo caught the whooshing and hissing sounds, too. He couldn't register at first what sounds they were. But when he heard Ted grunt in the distance, he realized that they were being attacked. Another dose of panic was added to his mind. He couldn't stand it anymore. He started to thrash around. He didn't care with the cord trapping his neck. He could be their next target.
Frodo held his breath hearing the wizard behind him howl. He froze. What if Saruman died? Would he finally go free? Frodo desperately wanted to be able to see who came after them.
Then he felt the man start to slide down the horse - taking him along! Frodo jerked, but he couldn't do anything while his hands were still bound behind him. He felt himself sliding, too, and then - snap! His movement was stopped by the leash. His eyes bulged out behind the cover. Oh, it hurt!
This was he most terrifying way to die, Frodo thought. He remembered his parents again. It had never crossed his mind that he was going to die in the same way.
The knot got tighter and Frodo felt his windpipe no longer deliver the much- needed air. This was even worse than when he got panic because of the dark.
His mind and lungs screamed for help, and Frodo gradually drifted into the deep abyss of unconsciousness.
The whole episode was not missed by four pair of eyes. The first two pairs belonged to two hobbits. Merry and Pippin.
They had been speeding on their pony - if it could be called speeding at all - when they heard hooves of bigger horses coming. They stopped their ride at once and hid behind the bush.
Merry recognized Frodo immediately although the face was covered by a black scarf. Merry was also recognizing Ted. But he didn't know the man behind Frodo.
He was thinking on how to take Frodo from the men when arrows started flying. Gasping, he grabbed Pip quickly to get lower.
Both of the men fell and went stiff. They seemed to die at once. But Frodo - oh, no! He was left hanging there, kicking and struggling, and then went still. Pippin had almost jumped out but Merry snatched him. He saw that the third party, the ones having the other pairs of eyes, was there first.
"Mr. Frodo!" screamed Sam, running hastily to his unmoving master. Strider followed him from behind with this bow and an arrow ready in his hands. He went to Saruman and kicked the wizard, making sure that he was really dead. He winced to see how Sam hugged Frodo's legs and tried hard to push them up to lessen the impact of the strangle.
"Sam - Sam, stay put. Keep pushing up. I'll free Frodo's neck."
Strider worked fast but carefully. First he untied the rope from the saddle's horn. Sam heaved, feeling his burden suddenly become heavier. Strider immediately offered his hands, grabbing Frodo's upper body.
Slowly, both of them put Frodo on the ground. Then Strider unfastened the knot behind Frodo's head and unlooped the cord from the head. He glanced at Sam briefly, wondering if Sam was ready to accept the fact - whether or not Frodo was still alive.
"You don't have to see it, Sam," Strider said softly a moment before he opened the blindfold. Sam looked up, weeping already.
"No, Strider. I have to know - I have to be the first to know if Mr. Frodo is all right - or not." Sam's heartbreaking voice almost made Strider cry, too.
Strider turned Frodo's head to the side, and cursing at how tight the knot was, untied it. He lifted the black scarf, uncovering the face he hardly knew but loved directly. Frodo's face looked thinner, much thinner than when he saw it some time ago at Prancing Pony. Other things were just as pathetic. There were dark circles under the closed eyes and the soft lips looked bluish. Shadows of old bruises could be recognized on his pale cheeks. But still the hobbit looked incredibly beautiful, if not more beautiful. Yet, there was one thing that made Strider almost jump with joy. Frodo was still breathing.
***
Gandalf felt the tower shake a bit. It was his nth night for him to be held on the top of Orthanc by Saruman. He couldn't guess what his used-to-be mentor was doing now but he could sense that something unpleasant had come upon him.
It wasn't merely 'unpleasant'. It was horrible! Saruman had just received news about the death of the 'other him', and now he was enraged, furious, and, fuming with anger. He roared and bellowed in his tower until it quaked.
The palantir showed him all and it kept showing him what was happening next. He had seen how Strider's arrow struck his other's body and then how the ranger successfully helped the little hafling. And he still hadn't got the ring!
"Mugwort! Come here!"
Bent down, an orc came stumbling up the stairs.
"Master," he said softly. His master didn't look to be in his best day. He didn't want to be the one to vent the anger.
"How are the uruk hais?"
"We're in progress, Master!"
"How many?"
"Can't say how many yet. Sorry, master."
"Hmm." Saruman thought hard. Even if the uruk hais were ready, they were too slow to be able to reach the forest where the ring bearer was in time. He had to try another way. Ah! He snapped his fingers.
"The wargs! Send the wargs with the best riders you've got!"
Nodding comprehensively after the clear instructions were given, Mugwort left.
***
"Oh, Mr. Frodo!" Sam sobbed harder upon seeing his beloved master's condition. He touched the burn around Frodo's neck carefully. "Will he be awake, Strider?"
"You have to be patient, Sam," replied the ranger gently. "Frodo had just had a traumatic experience on being suffocated. Lucky he's still alive."
Strider carefully untied Frodo's hands and returned him to his former position. Sam massaged Frodo's swollen wrists. He couldn't say anything other than: Frodo - Frodo - Frodo, over and over.
He and Strider didn't realize that Merry and Pippin were watching them not far from there.
"Pip," whispered Merry, handing his cousin a rock. It want too big bit not small either. "Throw it. Make sure it hit any one of them. Sam, if possible. I can't let Frodo awake and find that his gardener's still up and about."
Pip stared at him in doubt but he didn't say anything. He took the stone and started targeting on Sam. It was a piece of cake for him as he had often hit down apples or oranges from a tree.
Ssssttt - clang!
And Sam went crumpled to his side without any sound. Strider started and cried out, "Sam!" He couldn't tell what happened but then he saw the stone that hit the hobbit. A smear of blood was on it.
Please, no! Don't let Sam -
Hurry, he went to Sam and rubbed the back of his head. There was definitely blood there but fortunately the wound wasn't fatal. Sam was unconscious and Strider hoped that was the worst that could happen to him.
There was a movement, followed by a heavy sigh. Frodo.
Strider turned back to the other hobbit. Frodo's eyes slid open.
"Where am I?" he asked hoarsely. "Am I still alive?"
Strider couldn't help his smile. Relief washed over him. He half forgot that he actually wanted to find out who had thrown out the stone. Strider nodded.
Once his sight had returned to him completely, Frodo looked at Strider unbelievingly. His bows knotted.
"Ranger? You saved me?" he whispered and tried to get up. Frodo staggered.
"Easy," said Strider, quickly helping him. "You're still shocked."
"I - I am free?" Frodo's voice was caught. He looked around and his eyes fell to the form he knew very well.
"S - s - sam? But weren't you - dead already?" he stammered.
Then, as he noted Sam's still body, a new understanding came to him.
"You!" his eyes shot accusingly to Strider. "You killed Sam!"
TBC
AN: I guess Strider does have a bow and arrows. After all, he is a ranger!
Chapter 33
Frodo caught the whooshing and hissing sounds, too. He couldn't register at first what sounds they were. But when he heard Ted grunt in the distance, he realized that they were being attacked. Another dose of panic was added to his mind. He couldn't stand it anymore. He started to thrash around. He didn't care with the cord trapping his neck. He could be their next target.
Frodo held his breath hearing the wizard behind him howl. He froze. What if Saruman died? Would he finally go free? Frodo desperately wanted to be able to see who came after them.
Then he felt the man start to slide down the horse - taking him along! Frodo jerked, but he couldn't do anything while his hands were still bound behind him. He felt himself sliding, too, and then - snap! His movement was stopped by the leash. His eyes bulged out behind the cover. Oh, it hurt!
This was he most terrifying way to die, Frodo thought. He remembered his parents again. It had never crossed his mind that he was going to die in the same way.
The knot got tighter and Frodo felt his windpipe no longer deliver the much- needed air. This was even worse than when he got panic because of the dark.
His mind and lungs screamed for help, and Frodo gradually drifted into the deep abyss of unconsciousness.
The whole episode was not missed by four pair of eyes. The first two pairs belonged to two hobbits. Merry and Pippin.
They had been speeding on their pony - if it could be called speeding at all - when they heard hooves of bigger horses coming. They stopped their ride at once and hid behind the bush.
Merry recognized Frodo immediately although the face was covered by a black scarf. Merry was also recognizing Ted. But he didn't know the man behind Frodo.
He was thinking on how to take Frodo from the men when arrows started flying. Gasping, he grabbed Pip quickly to get lower.
Both of the men fell and went stiff. They seemed to die at once. But Frodo - oh, no! He was left hanging there, kicking and struggling, and then went still. Pippin had almost jumped out but Merry snatched him. He saw that the third party, the ones having the other pairs of eyes, was there first.
"Mr. Frodo!" screamed Sam, running hastily to his unmoving master. Strider followed him from behind with this bow and an arrow ready in his hands. He went to Saruman and kicked the wizard, making sure that he was really dead. He winced to see how Sam hugged Frodo's legs and tried hard to push them up to lessen the impact of the strangle.
"Sam - Sam, stay put. Keep pushing up. I'll free Frodo's neck."
Strider worked fast but carefully. First he untied the rope from the saddle's horn. Sam heaved, feeling his burden suddenly become heavier. Strider immediately offered his hands, grabbing Frodo's upper body.
Slowly, both of them put Frodo on the ground. Then Strider unfastened the knot behind Frodo's head and unlooped the cord from the head. He glanced at Sam briefly, wondering if Sam was ready to accept the fact - whether or not Frodo was still alive.
"You don't have to see it, Sam," Strider said softly a moment before he opened the blindfold. Sam looked up, weeping already.
"No, Strider. I have to know - I have to be the first to know if Mr. Frodo is all right - or not." Sam's heartbreaking voice almost made Strider cry, too.
Strider turned Frodo's head to the side, and cursing at how tight the knot was, untied it. He lifted the black scarf, uncovering the face he hardly knew but loved directly. Frodo's face looked thinner, much thinner than when he saw it some time ago at Prancing Pony. Other things were just as pathetic. There were dark circles under the closed eyes and the soft lips looked bluish. Shadows of old bruises could be recognized on his pale cheeks. But still the hobbit looked incredibly beautiful, if not more beautiful. Yet, there was one thing that made Strider almost jump with joy. Frodo was still breathing.
***
Gandalf felt the tower shake a bit. It was his nth night for him to be held on the top of Orthanc by Saruman. He couldn't guess what his used-to-be mentor was doing now but he could sense that something unpleasant had come upon him.
It wasn't merely 'unpleasant'. It was horrible! Saruman had just received news about the death of the 'other him', and now he was enraged, furious, and, fuming with anger. He roared and bellowed in his tower until it quaked.
The palantir showed him all and it kept showing him what was happening next. He had seen how Strider's arrow struck his other's body and then how the ranger successfully helped the little hafling. And he still hadn't got the ring!
"Mugwort! Come here!"
Bent down, an orc came stumbling up the stairs.
"Master," he said softly. His master didn't look to be in his best day. He didn't want to be the one to vent the anger.
"How are the uruk hais?"
"We're in progress, Master!"
"How many?"
"Can't say how many yet. Sorry, master."
"Hmm." Saruman thought hard. Even if the uruk hais were ready, they were too slow to be able to reach the forest where the ring bearer was in time. He had to try another way. Ah! He snapped his fingers.
"The wargs! Send the wargs with the best riders you've got!"
Nodding comprehensively after the clear instructions were given, Mugwort left.
***
"Oh, Mr. Frodo!" Sam sobbed harder upon seeing his beloved master's condition. He touched the burn around Frodo's neck carefully. "Will he be awake, Strider?"
"You have to be patient, Sam," replied the ranger gently. "Frodo had just had a traumatic experience on being suffocated. Lucky he's still alive."
Strider carefully untied Frodo's hands and returned him to his former position. Sam massaged Frodo's swollen wrists. He couldn't say anything other than: Frodo - Frodo - Frodo, over and over.
He and Strider didn't realize that Merry and Pippin were watching them not far from there.
"Pip," whispered Merry, handing his cousin a rock. It want too big bit not small either. "Throw it. Make sure it hit any one of them. Sam, if possible. I can't let Frodo awake and find that his gardener's still up and about."
Pip stared at him in doubt but he didn't say anything. He took the stone and started targeting on Sam. It was a piece of cake for him as he had often hit down apples or oranges from a tree.
Ssssttt - clang!
And Sam went crumpled to his side without any sound. Strider started and cried out, "Sam!" He couldn't tell what happened but then he saw the stone that hit the hobbit. A smear of blood was on it.
Please, no! Don't let Sam -
Hurry, he went to Sam and rubbed the back of his head. There was definitely blood there but fortunately the wound wasn't fatal. Sam was unconscious and Strider hoped that was the worst that could happen to him.
There was a movement, followed by a heavy sigh. Frodo.
Strider turned back to the other hobbit. Frodo's eyes slid open.
"Where am I?" he asked hoarsely. "Am I still alive?"
Strider couldn't help his smile. Relief washed over him. He half forgot that he actually wanted to find out who had thrown out the stone. Strider nodded.
Once his sight had returned to him completely, Frodo looked at Strider unbelievingly. His bows knotted.
"Ranger? You saved me?" he whispered and tried to get up. Frodo staggered.
"Easy," said Strider, quickly helping him. "You're still shocked."
"I - I am free?" Frodo's voice was caught. He looked around and his eyes fell to the form he knew very well.
"S - s - sam? But weren't you - dead already?" he stammered.
Then, as he noted Sam's still body, a new understanding came to him.
"You!" his eyes shot accusingly to Strider. "You killed Sam!"
TBC
AN: I guess Strider does have a bow and arrows. After all, he is a ranger!
